WHALE SPECIES EXPLAINED #20. AMAZON RIVER DOLPHIN
The Amazon river dolphin is one of the two River dolphin species found in South America . They
weigh exactly 185kg and measure 2.5 meters. They are called Amazon River Dolphins because
all three subspecies were discovered and live in different parts of the Amazon basin. They
have relatively large dorsal and pectoral fins than their small bodies. The male Amazon River
Dolphin can be 55% heavier and 16% longer than the female population due to sexual dimorphism.
#19. NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE The North Atlantic Right Whale was one of the most
targeted whales due to its submissive nature and slow speed. They were the preferred whaling target
until it became illegal. Still, vessel strikes, climate change, and entanglements are threats
to the survival of this whale species. They are enlisted as a highly endangered mammal species.
The average North Atlantic Right Whale is averagely 16 meters long and can weigh up to
80 tonnes, and has a population of 400. #18. NORTH PACIFIC RIGHT WHALE
It can weigh up to 100 tonnes and be as long as 15 to 18 meters. The species features an arched
jawline, callosities on its head, and no dorsal fin at its back. Like the North Atlantic Right
Whale, these whale species are also endangered. The remaining population could be found in the Sea
of Okhotsk and Kuril islands. In 2010, a group of researchers led by ecologist Brendan Kelly found
that some crossbreeds were springing up in the Arctic. One of those marine mammal species was a
North Pacific right whale and Bowhead Whale. #17. SOUTHERN RIGHT WHALE
As the third right whale species, the Southern right whale is the only one that is not
threatened or endangered. The 15 meters long whale that weighs 80 90 tonnes has an estimated 10 000
population across the lower part of the Southern hemisphere. Another distinctive trait is their
tail sailing. They sail across the seas with their tails out of the water's surface.
#16. FIN WHALE The Fin whale, also called the Finback whale,
is the second-largest animal species after the Blue Whale. They can measure up to 25.9 meters
and weigh 17 tonnes. Fin Whales are also fast swimmers with an average record of 41 km/h.
The Fin whale is a cosmopolitan species found in every climatic region except the extreme
polar climates. The distinctive, recognizable features are asymmetrical markings on their bodies
and curved dorsal fins. This whale is identical to the Sei and Blue Whales. Finback whales are a
dangerous species. #15. BLUE WHALE
The Blue whale was once abundant in oceans and major seas, but now they are reported to have
a population of 10,000 to 25,000 individual species. The Blue Whale is the largest animal
known on Earth and has three main subspecies. The subspecies can be found in North Atlantic
and Pacific waters, the South Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. This large mammal feeds only on
krill, and its tongue alone can weigh 2.5 tonnes. The full body weight is 173 tonnes, and it can be
as long as 29 meters. One interesting fact about Blue Whales is that their heart rate is two beats
per minute at the surface; however, it is between 25 and 37 beats per minute when underwater.
#14. SEI WHALE They can be as long as 19.5 meters
and weigh 28 tonnes. They also have a pointed rostrum, the front part of the whale's mouth,
the jaw, and an arched dorsal fin. Sei Whales had experienced multiple mass deaths,
including when 337 were discovered dead in Chile. They often have flesh wounds all over their bodies
due toshark bites. #13. ANTARCTIC MINKE WHALE
Antarctic Minke Whale is a small baleen species with its longest specimen measuring 11.9 meters.
They also weigh only 10 tonnes. Until recently, their small meat quality and low oil yield
made them a neglected species by whalers. They only became a hunted species in the 21st Century.
The Antarctic Minke Whale is now considered a near-threatened species. While these Whales remain
exclusively found in the Southern Hemisphere, there have been multiple sightings of the species
at the north of the Equator. Although there is no confirmed habitat for them there.
#12. HUMPBACK WHALE The Humpback whale has a length of 12 to
16 meters and can weigh between 25 and 30 tonnes. The Humpback whale is identifiable by its bulky
body and pectoral fin. The Humpback whale also has many distinctive body attributes, but they are
captivating as performers. Humpbacks impress whale watchers with their spy-hopping, tail-slapping,
singing, or vocalization. The Humpback whale is one of the most popular whales, yet their larger
and more dangerous counterparts overshadow them. Close to 80,000 humpback whales inhabit all oceans
and major seas in true cosmopolitan style. #11. HECTOR S WHALE
Hector's whale is one of the rarest dolphins on Earth. They are 1.4 meter in length and weigh
40 to 60 kg. Hector's whale has a round dorsal fin and is very pale in appearance. The species
are endemic to New Zealand and are the smallest family. The famous endangered Maui dolphins
are subspecies of Hector's. #10. GREY WHALE
The Grey whale has a length of 12 to 16 meters. They weigh 25 to 30 tonnes. They are dark grey,
and they have many white spots all over their bodies. They have a dorsal ridge,
which is created by their lifted midline. Grey whales can be found in the eastern North Pacific
and Western North Pacific. A Grey whale set the record with the most distance covered
when it traveled across the Pacific Ocean in 2015. It set the record at 22,000 km.
#9. PYGMY KILLER WHALE Is a smaller version of the killer
whale. As such, they feed on small fishes and common whales. The Pygmy Killer Whale is largely
populated between the Coasts of Japan and Hawaii. They are 2 meters long and not much is known about
them. The Pygmy killer whale range extends from about 35 degrees north to 35 degrees south.
#8. SHORT-FINNED PILOT WHALE The length of the whale's flipper gave
its name as the Short-finned pilot whale. The average length of this species is 5.5 meters,
and they weigh about 3,000 kg. The tiny white spots all over their body distinguish them. They
have smaller jaws too. The sexual orientation and age of each Short-finned pilot whale determine the
shape of their dorsal fin. The short-finned pilot whale is in the same family as the log-finned
pilot whale. #7. KILLER WHALE
Also known as, Orcas, Killer Whales hunt predators like Tiger Sharks,
White Sharks, and Leopard Seals. They also prey on Grey and Sperm whales. The Killer whale stays
with its mother its entire life, and they have a complex social structure as an ocean society.
Killer whales usually weigh 6 tonnes and can be long, between 6 to 8 meters.
#6. FALSE KILLER WHALE This 6-meters species is called a false killer
whale because it is identical and can be mistaken for killer whales when studying their skulls.
They usually weigh 2,200 kg and can have erratic behaviors. The species have had moments where they
offer fish to humans, and then there are reports of them taking fish out of nests forcefully. The
false killer whales are sociable. They can travel long distances with other whale species without
being aggressive. However, that is not the story for every whale species as they can be aggressive,
especially towards the common species. Their unpredictable nature makes them one of a kind
in research and training. (11:03) #5. BELUGA WHALE
The Beluga Whale is the only marine species entirely white in appearance. They are large and
distinct in many other ways. They weigh 1,900 kg and are 5.5 meters long. The Beluga whale does not
have a dorsal fin. They also have a biosonar in front of their head, which helps them make
click sounds and also aids them in finding prey. Beluga Whales are often found inhabiting cold,
artic, and sub-arctic waters, but it is not strange to find them in aquariums worldwide.
#4. NARWHAL The 5.5 meters whale that weighs
1,600 kg is a medium-sized whale exclusively found in the Arctic waters.
It is the only surviving species in its whale family. Narwhals have long spiral tusks and
teeth that can grow up to 10 feet in length. The Narwhal's tusk has close to ten million
nerve endings inside, and it feeds the whale with vital information about its surroundings.
This sensory organ is distinct and can be found in rare cases in females.
#3. SPERM WHALE A calf sperm whale could be
16 meters long, while an adult sperm whale swims 20 meters long. The average sperm whale weighs 41
tonnes. The Sperm Whale is the largest toothed whale. It is in the same family as the pygmy
sperm whale and dwarf sperm whale. The brain of the Sperm whale is the largest animal brain,
which sits in its head that forms one-third of its whole body. The Sperm whales are also responsible
for some of the highest frequency vocalizations in the Oceans. It can make them a spectacle
for whale enthusiasts and watchers. #2. BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN Three subspecies fall under
the Bottlenose Dolphin. The subspecies are Common bottlenose, Burrunan, and Indo-Pacific dolphin.
This species weighs 300 kg and is 4 meters long. The Bottlenoses are common in aquariums,
and whale shows because of their friendliness towards humans and other cognitive functions.
They are quick to learn new concepts and are easily trained. These species are also trained
by the militaries of countries like Russia and the United States to detect enemy divers
and explosive underwater mines. #1. VAQUITA
The Vaquita species is one of the closest to dolphins in features and behavioral traits.
They are known to be stationed at the Gulf of California. The Vaquita was once declared
extinct and remained the most endangered ocean species known. They are 1.35 meters in length.
They are easily recognizable with the dark rings around their eyes. They are also grey
in appearance. Vaquita is often slow swimmers, and they avoid all forms of human interaction,
including vessels. They are the only known species in their family group to inhabit warm waters.
What is your favorite whale? Let us know in the comments section below.